Where does “befinger” come from?

befinger (English) comes from English finger, from German Finger, from Middle High German vinger, from Old High German fingar, from Proto-West Germanic fingr, from Proto-Germanic fingraz, from Proto-Indo-European penkʷrós.

befinger (English): To finger all over

Definitions

  1. To finger all over

Ancestry of “befinger”, step by step

befinger traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English finger

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfingerA slender jointed extremity of the human hand, (often) exclusive of the thumb, and the corresponding part, irrespective of including a thumb, in many other animals
2GermanFingerfinger
3Middle High Germanvingerfinger
4Old High Germanfingarfinger
5Proto-West Germanicfingrfinger
6Proto-Germanicfingrazfinger
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpenkʷrós

via English Be

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBeAs an auxiliary verb
2Middle EnglishbeAlternative form of been; Alternative form of...
3Old EnglishbēoI become, I will be, I am; bee
4Proto-Germanicbiumifirst-person singular present active indicative...
5Proto-Germanic*beuną
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰew-to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European penkʷrósEvery word from Proto-Germanic fingrazEvery word from Proto-West Germanic fingr